1 OF 6 SUSPECTS IN SEX ASSAULT RELEASED ON BAIL

One of six young men accused of sexually attacking a 16-year-old girl at a crowded nightclub was released on Monday, just a day after the incident occurred, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.

The other five remained in jail by order of Broward judge Carole Taylor, who declined to set bail for them on Monday. It is not known why Wilman Deris, 21, of Sunrise was released on $7,500 bail.

The six young men, three of whom are juveniles, were arrested at the Heart of the City Club, 3135 W. Broward Blvd., early Sunday after they were identified by a teen-ager as her attackers, Broward Sherrif's Office spokesman Ott Cefkin said.

Besides Deris, the others charged with sexual battery are Garfield St. Alburn Brown, 28, of Hollywood; Herbert A. Coakley, 19, of Fort Lauderdale; two 16-year-old boys from Fort Lauderdale and a 15-year-old from Hallandale. Their names are not being published because they are juveniles.

Deputies said it had been the girl's first time at the club, which serves no alcohol. She was attacked at about 3:20 a.m., shortly before the club's 4 a.m. closing time.

Deputies initially said the attack apparently happened after the girl rejected Brown's advances as they danced.

But on Monday, Detective George Bruder said the teen-ager told investigators she was not dancing.

She told investigators she was standing behind a set of speakers when Brown knocked her head into a railing and then kicked her. He also held her down while the five others fondled her, Bruder said.

By that time, the scene turned into what Bruder described as "a frenzy."The girl ran from the club and told deputies, who were working off-duty outside the club, about the attack. Deputies closed the club and had patrons file out one by one, so the victim could identify the attackers.

Deputies have no doubt there were plenty of witnesses, but no one had come forward as of Monday.

Cefkin, the spokesman, said sexual battery is a first-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.